Woolley named head women&#039;s basketball coach

The University of Montana Western has signed Montana native Lindsay Woolley as the new head women’s basketball coach pending approval by the Montana Board of Regents. UMW NEWS BUREAU
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="350" caption="Photo by Dick Wiseman, courtesy of Miles Community College Athletics."][/caption]
The University of Montana Western has signed Montana native Lindsay Woolley as the new head women’s basketball coach.
Woolley will join Montana Western immediately pending approval by the Montana Board of Regents.
Woolley comes to Montana Western after working as the Miles Community College (MCC) head women’s basketball for the past four years. Prior to serving as head coach at MCC, he was the assistant men’s basketball coach for eight years, the women’s assistant basketball coach for one year and the head golf coach for four years.
Woolley said he sees significant and immediate potential in the women’s varsity team and is excited to return to western Montana.
“It’s exciting because often times when there are coaching changes there is a lot of turmoil within the roster,” Woolley explained. “In this situation with Cara [Cocchiarella] leaving, there is a lot of talent and pieces in place and a real chance for us to be successful right away. The four-year transition is something that’s been on my mind for many years. It’s great to be moving back to western Montana. Dillon will be a great place to start a family, and my wife and I are just really excited.”
A Missoula, Mont. native, Woolley played high school basketball at Big Sky High School and was a member of the AA boy’s state championship team in 1997. After graduating from high school in 1998, Woolley attended Montana Tech of the University of Montana and played both basketball and golf there before transferring to the University of Montana. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from UM in 2004. While at UMW, Woolley coached the Big Sky High School junior varsity basketball team for one season under the guidance of Josh Laslovich before moving to Miles City.
During his time as head coach of the MCC women’s basketball program, Woolley led his team to an overall record of 65-27 with a runner-up Mon-Dak Conference finish in his first year before following with a pair of consecutive Mon-Dak Conference Championships while leading the Lady Pioneers to the quarterfinal round of the Region IX tournament each season.
Ahead of his first season at Montana Western, Woolley will earn a master’s degree in human performance in physical education this June from Adams State College.
He is married to Megan Bundy of Miles City.
Montana Western Athletic Director Mark Durham said Woolley is a perfect fit for the Bulldogs.
"We are very excited Lindsay wants to be our next women's basketball coach,” Durham said. “He is a proven winner at the college level and because he played in the Frontier Conference he understands what it will take to be successful. He is also from Montana so he is connected within the state already."